St. Vibiana’s Cathedral
* The Catholic Worker Movement’s criticism of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles for its decision to accept the gift of a new cathedral is unwarranted, especially since it is predicated upon a false premise (Platform, Feb. 5).
The foundations and individuals who offered the money for the new St. Vibiana’s Cathedral Square have given hundreds of millions of dollars over the years for poor parishes, inner-city schools, Catholic health care facilities and other programs that benefit the poor. They asked the archdiocese to accept the gift of a new cathedral in addition to their ongoing commitments to assist the needy in our community. The Catholic Worker Movement’s conclusion that the church would have $45 million more to “lavish on the poor” had the archdiocese turned down the cathedral gift is simply untrue.
This was a “both-and” proposition rather than the “either-or” scenario.
THE REV. GREGORY COIRO O.F.M.Cap.
Director, Office of Public Affairs
Archdiocese of Los Angeles
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